MasterChef: The Professionals 2026
MasterChef: The Professionals 2026: Where to watch it, who are the contestants, judges, critics, guest chefs, finalists and winner.
Series 18 of MasterChef: The Professionals is likely to air in the spring on BBC One.
It could be the first of two series shown in 2026.
Usually aired in November and December, the 2025 series was pushed back to early 2026.
Filming has already taken place for series 18, while applications are now open for series 19.
Previous series of MasterChef: The Professionals are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Judges, guest chefs, food critics, chef contestants
In series 18, Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing return as judges, with the pair joined by a new host in Matt Tebbutt, who replaces Gregg Wallace,
In series 17, a series of well-known food critics also featured, included William Sitwell, Grace Dent, Jimi Famurewa, Tom Parker-Bowles, Tracey MacLeod and Jay Rayner.
Guest chef judges have either come into the MasterChef studios to challenge the chefs, or invited contestants to cook in their restaurants, including Jean-Philippe Blondet, Gareth Ward, Andrew Wong, Aktar Islam, Matt Abé, Sally Abé, Michael Caines, Jun Tanaka, Niall Keating, Daniel Clifford and Anna Haugh.
When does the MasterChef: The Professionals 2026 start?
The start date for series 18 of MasterChef: The Professionals has yet to be announced.
It's expected that there will be four weeks of heats, followed by the semi-finals and finals.
When is the MasterChef: The Professionals 2026 final?
It is yet to be confirmed when the next final of MasterChef: The Professionals will be.
Who is taking part in MasterChef: The Professionals 2026?
The contestants taking part in MasterChef: The Professionals 2026 will likely feature 32 chefs selected from across the country. Applications closed on March 31st, 2025.
Dan Merriman saw off the competition of 31 other chefs across the series, outcooking fellow finalists Chiara Tomasoni and George Birtwell to take the trophy.
Tom Hamblet, Sous Chef at South Lodge Hotel, was crowned MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 winner, beating his fellow finalists Kasae Fraser and Tommy Thorn who both also competed in the Grand Final.
Junior sous chef at Kitchen W8, Nikita Pathakji beat her fellow finalists, Sagar Massey, and Charlie Jeffreys, to become the winner of MasterChef: The Professionals 2022.
Private chef and UCB graduate Daniel Lee beat his fellow finalists Aaron Middleton and Liam Rogers to become the winner of MasterChef: The Professionals 2021.
Alex Webb is the former head chef at Square 1 Restaurant and Catering in Dunmow was crowned Masterchef: The Professionals 2020 winner.
Stuart 'Stu' Deeley, formerly the head chef at The Wilderness in Birmingham, won the MasterChef: The Professionals 2019 competition. Stu's project to open his own restaurant in his home city was delayed because of coronavirus, and then saw him take on a role as development chef at Hampton Manor's one Michelin star restaurant, Peel's.
Laurence Henry, former sous chef at two Michelin-starred Restaurant Sat Bains won MasterChef: The Professionals 2018.
